La Sonnambula

by Vincenzo Bellini

Teatro dell'Opera di Roma http://www.operaroma.it

Rome, Italy
Subtitles available in Italian and English
  • February 2018
    18
    Sunday
    20:00 > 23:00
    3 hours
  • February 2018
    20
    Tuesday
    20:00 > 23:00
    3 hours
  • February 2018
    23
    Friday
    20:00 > 23:00
    3 hours
  • February 2018
    25
    Sunday
    16:30 > 19:30
    3 hours
  • February 2018
    27
    Tuesday
    20:00 > 23:00
    3 hours
Find out more about the Cast , the Composition , the Composer or what the Reviews say

La Sonnambula

Cast

Press & Reviews

Giornale della Musica
Mauro Mariani
La Sonnambula di Jessica Pratt
Not available in English
Questa Sonnambula ha una protagonista e si chiama Amina. Semplice ma vero. Jessica Pratt ha infatti dominato la scena dall’inizio alla fine, dapprima mettendo a frutto soprattutto la sua impeccabile tecnica belcantistica, che rispetto ai suoi esordi è diventata ancora migliore, più fluida e meno meccanica, più spontanea e meno esibita. Nel secondo atto, quando la temperie emotiva sale, anche la sua interpretazione cresce e raggiunge un vertice in “Ah, non credea mirarti“, proprio il pezzo apparentemente più semplice, in cui la capacità tecnica fa un passo indietro rispetto al dono di infondere emozione alla melodia e di toccare il cuore dell’ascoltatore.
Amadeus
Anna Ficarella
Roma: Sonnambula come Alice nel Paese delle Meraviglie
Not available in English
Protagonista della serata è stata sicuramente l’impeccabile tecnica belcantistica di Jessica Pratt, un’Amina-bambola che, letteralmente, cresce e raggiunge una maggiore intensità (anche nel volume della voce, persino troppo poco esibita nel prima parte) solo nel secondo atto, quando finalmente la morbida fluidità della suo timbro riesce a infondere emozione alla melodia in “Ah, non creda mirarti”, commovendo gli ascoltatori.
Connessi all'Opera
Emiliano Metalli
Roma, Teatro dell’Opera – La sonnambula
Not available in English
L’Amina di Jessica Pratt, poi, è cristallina, misuratissima nei recitativi in cui sa commuovere con un sospiro, pirotecnica nelle cabalette dove non perde occasione di sfoggiare sovracuti penetranti, ma anche elegante e teneramente malinconica nei cantabili. La ricordo, alcuni anni or sono, in un concerto in Auditorium già padrona consapevole di uno strumento affascinante, la ritrovo oggi più matura, più attenta alla scansione delle parole, più controllata nel legato che la accompagna intatto anche nei pianissimi più arditi, ma sempre ugualmente affascinante.
Recensito
Alessandra Pratesi
"LA SONNAMBULA" DI BELLINI IN ANTEPRIMA AL TEATRO DELL'OPERA DI ROMA
Not available in English
Il soprano australiano non è nuova né al palco romano (già a Roma con “Lucia di Lammermoor” nel 2015 e con “Linda di Chamounix” nel 2016), né alle melodie belliniane (è cantando un’aria della Sonnambula che vince il concorso che dall’emisfero australe la porta alla città eterna). Sotto la direzione di Scappucci, e grazie alla destrezza che le deriva dai numerosi ruoli belcantistici interpretati, Pratt regala acuti limpidi in “Ah! Non credea mirarti”, di grazia e leggerezza cristalline nonostante le doti tecniche richieste dai passaggi.

Il Sussidiario
Giuseppe Pennisi
OPERA/ Bellini: "La sonnambula" in una casa di bambole
Not available in English
Jessica Pratt , anche se giovane, è una veterana di un ruolo molto impervio che ha trattato magnificamente sin dalla iniziale cavatina e trionfando in Ah! non credea mirarti/ si presto estinto o fiore e nel fantasmagorico rondò finale.
Città Nuova
Mario dal Bello
La bella favola di Sonnambula
Not available in English
L’edizione romana, pressoché integrale, ha il suo punto di forza nel soprano Jessica Pratt, splendida: pianissimi da sospiro, acuti mozzafiato, senso della linea melodica belliniana con i suoi “tempi rubati” e i virtuosismi giusti come specchio dell”anima.
ANSA
Elisabetta Stefanelli
La Sonnambula, donne in casa di bambola
Not available in English
Molto intensa poi l'interpretazione di Jessica Pratt nei panni dell'ingenua Amina, parte difficilissima sia per l'impegno vocale che per quello della recitazione...

Corriere della Sera
Valerio Cappelli
Jessica Pratt, a doll house for the queen of belcanto
Not available in English
Questa è la storia di Jessica Pratt, una regina del belcanto che per mantenersi, in Australia, serviva hamburger da McDonald’s. Dal 18 all’Opera canta La Sonnambuladi Bellini, sul podio Speranza Scappucci, nell’allestimento di Giorgio Barberio Corsetti che la vide protagonista due anni fa al Petruzzelli di Bari.
IERI, OGGI, DOMANI, OPERA!
Sara Feliciello
“AH! NON CREDEA MIRARTI”: INTERVISTA A JESSICA PRATT
Not available in English
Jessica Pratt è diventata un elemento importante per il repertorio del Belcanto, grazie a eccellente tecnica, doti da grande virtuosa, ma anche per la sensibilità e l’emotività con cui si approccia alle delicate eroine belcantiste. In questi giorni è al Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, in uno dei suoi cavalli di battaglia: Amina ne “La Sonnambula”, personaggio palpitante ed estremamente fragile. In una pausa tra le prove Jessica ci ha fatto il grande onore di raccontarci la sua Amina e il suo “essere” artista…

The Composition

La Sonnambula

Libretto written in italian by Felice Romani, was first premiered on a Sunday on March 06 of 1831
La sonnambula (The Sleepwalker) is an opera semiseria in two acts, with music in the bel canto tradition by Vincenzo Bellini set to an Italian libretto by Felice Romani, based on a scenario for a ballet-pantomime written by Eugène Scribe and choreographed by Jean-Pierre Aumer called La somnambule, ou L'arrivée d'un nouveau seigneur. The ballet had premiered in Paris in September 1827 at the height of a fashion for stage works incorporating somnambulism.
Synopsis
Act 1 Scene 1: A village, a mill in the background As the betrothal procession of Amina and Elvino approaches, the villagers all proclaiming joy for Amina, Lisa, the proprietress of the inn, comes outside expressing her misery: Tutto è gioia, tutto è festa...Sol per me non non v'ha contento / "All is joy and merriment... I alone am miserable". She is consumed with jealousy for she had once been betrothed to Elvino and had been abandoned by him in favour of Amina. The lovelorn Alessio arrives, but she rejects his advances. All assembled proclaim the beauty of Amina: In Elvezia non v'ha rosa / fresca e cara al par d'Amina / "In Switzerland there is no flower sweeter, dearer than Amina". Then Amina comes out of the mill with her foster-mother, Teresa. She is the owner of the mill and had adopted Amina many years before. Amina thanks her, also expressing her thanks to her assembled friends for their kind wishes. (Aria: Come per me sereno / oggi rinacque il di! / "How brightly this day dawned for me".) Additionally, she thanks Alessio, who tells her that he has composed the wedding song and organised the celebrations; she wishes him well in his courtship of Lisa, but Lisa cynically rejects the idea of love. Elvino arrives, exclaiming Perdona, o mio diletta / "Forgive me my beloved", and explaining that he had to stop on his way at his mother's grave to ask her blessing on Amina. As they exchange vows, the notary asks what she brings to the partnership: "Only my heart" she answers at which Elvino's exclaims: "Ah the heart is everything!". (Elvino's aria, then Amina, then all express their love and their joy: Prendi: l'anel ti dono / che un dì recava all'ara / "Here, receive this ring that the beloved spirit who smiled upon our love wore at the altar".) The sound of horses' hooves and a cracking whip is heard. A stranger arrives, asking the way to the castle. Lisa points out that it is getting late and he will not reach it before dark and she offers him lodging at her inn. When he says that he knows it, all are surprised. (Rodolfo's aria: Vi ravviso, o luoghi ameni, / in cui lieti, in cui sereni / "O lovely scenes, again I see you, / where in serenity I spent the calm and happy days of my earliest youth".) The newcomer, who surprises the villagers by his familiarity with the locality, asks about the celebrations and admires Amina, who reminds him of a girl he had loved long ago. (Tu non sai con quei begli occhi / come dolce il cor mi tocchi / "You can't know how those dear eyes gently touch my heart, what adorable beauty".) He admits to having once stayed in the castle, whose lord has been dead for four years. When Teresa explains that his son had vanished some years previously, the stranger assures them that he is alive and will return. As darkness approaches the villagers warn him that it is time to be indoors to avoid the village phantom: A fosco cielo, a notte bruna,/ al fioco raggio d'incerta luna / "When the sky is dark at night, and the moon's rays are weak, at the gloomy thunder's sound [....] a shade appears." Not being superstitious, he assures them that they will soon be free of the apparition. Elvino is jealous of the stranger's admiration of Amina; he is jealous even of the breezes that caress her, but he promises her he will reform. (Duet finale, Elvino and Amina: Son geloso del zefiro errante / che ti scherza col crin e col velo / "I envy the wandering breeze that plays with your hair, your veil..") Scene 2: A room in the inn Lisa enters Rodolfo's room to see if all is well. She reveals that his identity is known to all as Rodolfo, the long-lost son of the count. She advises him that the village is preparing a formal welcome; meanwhile she wishes be the first to pay her respects. She is flattered when he begins a flirtation with her, but runs out at the sound of people approaching, dropping her handkerchief which the Count picks up. He sees the approaching phantom who he recognises as Amina. She enters the room, walking in her sleep, all the while calling for Elvino and asking where he is. Realising that her nocturnal wanderings have given rise to the story of the village phantom, Rodolfo is about to take advantage of her helpless state. But then he is struck by her obvious innocence and refrains: (Scene: first Rodolfo: O ciel! che tento / "God! What am I doing?"; then, separately, Amina: Oh! come lieto è il popolo / "How happy all the people are, accompanying us to the church"; then together.) As Amina continues her sleepwalk, Rodolfo hears the sound of people approaching and, with no other way out, he climbs out of the window. Amina continues to sleep on the sofa as the villagers arrive at the inn. Lisa enters and points to Amina, who wakes up at the noise. Elvino, believing her faithless, rejects her in fury. Only Teresa believes in her innocence: Ensemble finale, first Amina D'un pensiero e d'un accento / "In my thought or in my words never , never have I sinned"; then Elvino: Voglia il cielo che il duol ch'io sento / "Heaven keep you from feeling ever the pain that I feel now!"; then the people and Teresa, the former proclaiming her treachery, Teresa pleading for her to be allowed to explain. Elvino then exclaims that there will be no wedding, and each expresses his or her emotional reaction to this discovery. Act 2 Scene 1: A wood On their way to ask the count to attest to Amina's innocence, the villagers rest in the woods and consider how they will express their support to him: (Chorus: Qui la selva è più folta ed ombrosa / "Here the wood is thick and dark"). Amina and Teresa arrive and are on a similar mission, but Amina is despondent, although Teresa encourages her daughter to continue. They then see Elvino coming in the wood looking downcast and sad. He continues to reject Amina, even when the townspeople come in with the news that the count says that she is innocent. Elvino is not convinced and takes back the ring, though he is unable to tear her image from his heart: (Aria, then chorus: Ah! Perché non posso odiarti, infedel, com'io vorrei! / "Why cannot I despise you, faithless, as I should?") Scene 2: The village, as in act 1 Lisa, Alessio, Elvino and the villagers are in the square. Elvino declares that he will renew his vows and proceed to marry Lisa. She is delighted. As they are about to go to the church, Rodolfo enters and tries to explain that Amina is innocent because she did not come to his room awake – she is a somnambulist, a sleepwalker: (Duet, first Elvino Signor Conte, agli occhi miei / negar fede non poss'io / "I cannot deny, my lord, what my eyes have seen"; then Rodolfo V'han certuni che dormendo / "Certain people when they sleep go about as if awake".) Elvino refuses to believe him and calls upon Lisa to leave, but at that moment Teresa begs the villagers to be quiet, because Amina has at last fallen into an exhausted sleep. Learning of the impending marriage, Teresa confronts Lisa, who says that she has never been found alone in a man's room. Teresa produces the handkerchief Lisa had dropped. The Count is unwilling to say what he thinks of this, but continues to insist on Amina's virtue. Elvino demands proof and Rodolfo, seeing the sleeping Amina walking across the high, dangerously unstable mill bridge, warns that to wake her would be fatal. All watch as she relives her betrothal and her grief at Elvino's rejection, taking the withered flowers in her hand. (Aria: Amina Ah! non credea mirarti / sì presto estinto, o fiore / "I had not thought I would see you, dear flowers, perished so soon". Then as she reaches the other side safely, the distraught Elvino calls to her and she is taken into his arms. Rodolfo hands him the ring which he places on her finger, at which time she awakens and is amazed by what has happened. All rejoice. In an aria finale, Amina expresses her joy: Ah! non giunge uman pensiero / al contento ond'io son piena / "Human thought cannot conceive of the happiness that fills me".

Vincenzo Bellini

Short biography of the composer
Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini (3 November 1801 – 23 September 1835) was an Italian opera composer, who was known for his long-flowing melodic lines for which he was named "the Swan of Catania". Many years later, in 1898, Giuseppe Verdi "praised the broad curves of Bellini's melody: 'there are extremely long melodies as no-one else had ever made before' " A large amount of what is known about Bellini's life and his activities comes from surviving letters—except for a short period—which were written over his lifetime to his friend Francesco Florimo, whom he had met as a fellow student in Naples and with whom he maintained a lifelong friendship. Other sources of information come from correspondence saved by other friends and business acquaintances. Bellini was the quintessential composer of the Italian bel canto era of the early 19th century, and his work has been summed up by the London critic Tim Ashley as: ... also hugely influential, as much admired by other composers as he was by the public. Verdi raved about his "long, long, long melodies ..." Wagner, who rarely liked anyone but himself, was spellbound by Bellini's almost uncanny ability to match music with text and psychology. Liszt and Chopin professed themselves fans. Of the 19th-century giants, only Berlioz demurred. Those musicologists who consider Bellini to be merely a melancholic tunesmith are now in the minority. In considering which of his operas can be seen to be his greatest successes over the almost two hundred years since his death, Il pirata laid much of the groundwork in 1827, achieving very early recognition in comparison to Donizetti's having written thirty operas before his major 1830 triumph with Anna Bolena. Both I Capuleti ed i Montecchi at La Fenice in 1830 and La sonnambula in Milan in 1831 reached new triumphal heights, although initially Norma, given at La Scala in 1831 did not fare as well until later performances elsewhere. "The genuine triumph" of I puritani in January 1835 in Paris capped a significant career. Certainly, Capuleti, La sonnambula, Norma, and I puritani are regularly performed today. After his initial success in Naples, most of the rest of his short life was spent outside of both Sicily and Naples, those years being followed with his living and composing in Milan and Northern Italy, and—after a visit to London—then came his final masterpiece in Paris, I puritani. Only nine months later, Bellini died in Puteaux, France at the age of 33.
Jessica has also performed in the following operas from the same composer:

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